Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal Monday said the government was making all-out efforts to put the country on trajectory of progress and prosperity. "We are working to include Pakistan among the top 50 economies of the world by 2025 and our vision is to make Pakistan among the world's top 10 economies by 2047," Iqbal added.
Addressing the International Investment Conference arranged by Board of Investment (BoI) here, the minister said Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government is utilising every possible resource to solve the problems being faced by masses. He maintained that the government was fully committed to unleashing the full potential of economy, and work with investors to build a strong, stable, and economically vibrant Pakistan.
The minister said there are huge opportunities for local and international investors in Pakistan; they could invest in mine, minerals, oil, gas, water conservation, power, LNG, roads, railways, airlines, infrastructure related and other projects. He said that the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal would be completed in February 2015 which will greatly help overcome energy crisis.
He was of the view that as compared to other sources of energy, natural gas was being provided on very low rates therefore burden on the source has been increased, which has created serious shortage of the commodity in the country. He said the government has taken serious measures in tackling with the gas theft and leakages issues, but these measures without the active participation of the federating units would not be fruitful.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government was endeavouring to reduce energy crisis on priority basis and funding for Dasu Power Project had been received and work on the project was formally initiated. He said although World Bank had not yet expressed its willingness to invest in Diamer Bhasha Dam, but the road-show for the project held in Washington remained successful and businessmen from the United States were showing interest in the project.
The minister said that the newly established Infrastructure Bank in China would also help bring in more investment in infrastructure projects of Pakistan which would help in speeding up development process. The minister further said that in a bid to overcome energy crisis, an integrated planning under Vision 2025 had been made according to which projects of electricity, gas, hydel and other energy sectors would be completed. He said under China-Pakistan trade corridor project, agreements are to be signed on different projects for production of 10,400 MW electricity.
"The agreements were to be signed on the occasion of Chinese President's visit to Pakistan in September, but the visit was cancelled due to political crisis and sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek," he said, adding that now the agreement would be signed on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to China. Later, talking to media, the minister said political crisis was a great hindrance to foreign investment in the country which will plunge the country into darkness. He urged the country's political leadership to avoid negative thinking and work together for the country's development.
Comments
Comments are closed.